PAX Command Gives Error "Bad Magic Number"

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0

SYMPTOMS

The Windows NT posix utility portable archive exchange (pax) gives the following error when an archive created on a UNIX computer is retrieved.

   pax: [offset 98]: Bad magic number
   pax: <filename> : May be corrupt
   pax: [offset 176]: Apparently resynchronized
   pax: <filename> : Continuing

CAUSE

The above error is obtained when the rsh command is used to remotely carry out pax on a UNIX host and redirect the output file to the local Windows NT computer.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, use the rcp command to copy the archived file from the remote UNIX host to the local Windows NT computer.

1. Use the following command to create the archive file on the remote host:

         Rsh unixhost -l root -n pax -w -x cpio -f archive.file file*
   

2. Use rcp to copy the archive file from the remote host in binary format:

         rcp -b host.user:archive.file .
   

3. Use pax to retrieve files:

         Pax -r -f archive.file
   

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.